On VH1’s ‘CrazySexyCool,’ TLC Vs. Destiny’s Child and The Ongoing Girl Group Dilemma

Vixen

While the moment and tweets have passed, a few eye-openers remain in theCrazySexyCool aftermath—that we should all finally forgive Lil Mama’s VMA stage crash and burn, that TV biopics can be financially viable today given the ratings onCrazySexyCool (4.5 million viewers) and that TLC as a girl group is still unmatched.

Destiny’s Child picked up the empowerment torch, sure, but Bey’s team was always the prissy relatives to TLC’s BFFs from the block. From safe sex to unity to depression, nothing was off limits for T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli. (Remember “Somethin’ Wicked This Way Comes”…“Sometimes I feel like there’s nothing to live for”??). TLC’s messages were more important. Silly and sincere, these were three extremely popular black women singing about critical issues and selling millions in the process. Even as they were initially cobbled together to fit an archetype, there was nothing manufactured about their agenda. They’re the best we’ve ever had.